Video

Boris Johnson has been heckled by members of the public yet again while trying to set out plans for his premiership, facing vocal criticism from people both while making a speech and in the street during a trip to South Yorkshire.

The Prime Minister visited Rotherham on Friday where he intended to discuss better devolution of powers to the region, and hoped to gain support for the Tory Party in the traditionally Labour-voting area that backed Leave in the 2016 referendum.

But instead of receiving praise during the speech about handing power to the northern leaders in Rotherham, Mr Johnson was heckled over his decision to suspend Parliament this week.

‘Get back to Parliament’

In the speech, which was broadcast live on Sky News, the Prime Minister said: “I know the transformative potential of local accountable leadership, someone with the power to sort out what matters most to local people.”

Also in Doncaster Mr Johnson faced heavy criticism from a local, where one woman took him to task for the previous Conservative Government’s austerity programme, which was captured by Channel 4 News.

Photos of the scene captured many locals taking selfies with the Prime Minister as he visited the city’s market.

But one woman asked him: “Where’s the money coming from now? Why have we all of a sudden got loads of money? All your going to do is you’re going to put the same amount of police on the street is what you’ve took off.”

Mr Johnson answered: “Well, we’re putting 20,000 more police. That’s absolutely true. So we’re also putting a lot more into hospitals. We’ve got 20 hospital upgrades and that’s on top of the 34 billion we’re putting in. So I appreciate the things have been tight but that’s because of the mess of the finances…”

The woman cut in saying: “People died because of austerity, and then you’ve got the cheek to come here and tell us austerity is over and it’s all good now. We’re going to leave the EU and everything’s going to be great. It’s just a fairy tale.”

As some in the crowd shouted in support of Brexit the woman said that she would prefer “a Labour Brexit to a Tory Brexit”.

‘You’ve drained Doncaster’

Boris Johnson was criticised for austerity by a woman in Doncaster. (Photo: Channel 4 News)

As Mr Johnson responded that Labour wanted to “go against” Brexit, the woman told him: “I’m not really interested in Labour. I’m more interested in the fact that you’ve drained Doncaster. Doncaster has had no funds on central government, every year there’s less money for Doncaster.”

The Prime Minister said: “We’ve got a huge new towns fund which is going to be giving £3.6bn pounds. Doncaster is one of the towns that is going to be eligible.

“And we’re putting money into the NHS, we’re putting money into schools. And I think there are very good times ahead. And then frankly, if you want to, you want to leave if you want to get out of the EU.

“The only way is to stick with us because at the moment everybody else seems to be wanting to reverse the result of the referendum and I think that would be a total betrayal of democracy.”

‘Leave my town’

Last week Mr Johnson had a similar experience in West Yorkshire with one moment a man told him politely to “leave my town” going viral after being captured by the BBC.

The Government is hoping to gain votes in Northern Brexit supporting constituencies with a combination of a hardline approach to Brexit and increased spending in the areas that have been hit hard by ten years of austerity.

Tory Brexiteer Bernard Jenkin attacked Commons speaker John Bercow on Friday claiming he was “irretrievably politicised and radicalised,” and his position was tantamount to a “majoritarian dictatorship” in Parliament.

The MP for Harwich and North Essex said that the Commons should look into the role of the Speaker, arguing that he was exerting excessive power over the Government.

‘Politicised and radicalised’

Bernard Jenkin criticised John Bercow during a radio interview. (Photo: UK Parliament)

He told the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme: “What has happened that the Office of Speaker has become irretrievably politicised and radicalised. It would have been unthinkable 10 or 15 years ago for the Speaker of the House of Commons to launch a personal attack on the Prime Minister like this.

“And I think the House of Commons is going to have to adapt itself to a different arrangement with the speaker in future, because the speaker himself has an enormous amount of discretionary power, personally invested in himself, absolute power.

“He decides the procedures of the House of Commons and can reinterpret any word in standing orders to mean whatever he likes, and for one individual, in what is now a contested, televised, very public and controversial position to have so much unregulated, untrammelled power, I think that’s something the House of Commons is going to have to look at.”

Mr Bercow has riled Brexiters for allowing a series of votes that take place that have allowed MPs to seize control of the business of the Commons, something that is normally controlled by the Government.

The votes last week have compelled Mr Johnson to seek a delay to Brexit if he cannot negotiate a deal with the EU that is satisfactory for MPs and if they reject a no-deal exit once again.

‘Majoritarian dictatorship position’

Mr Jenkin said that the Speaker was not doing enough to stick up for the minority of Brexiters in the Commons, where most MPs voted Remain in the 2016 referendum.

He said: “We usually have majority governments, and the Speaker of the House of Commons is there to ensure the protection of minorities. We’ve got a minority government, a very partisan speaker, and a speaker who is using the majority and doing nothing to protect the minority.

“For he himself, the speaker to say that he is subject to no law, no control, because he is prepared to reinterpret any law of Parliament, which are our standing orders. He’s not subject to any court. It’s a kind of majoritarian dictatorship position.”

Mr Bercow, who is due to step down before the end of October, used a speech to warn Mr Johnson that he must follow the act passed by MPs, which received royal assent on Monday.

He said: “The only form of Brexit which we will have, whenever that might be, will be a Brexit that the House of Commons has explicitly endorsed.”

“Surely, in 2019, in modern Britain, in a parliamentary democracy, we – parliamentarians, legislators – cannot in all conscience be conducting a debate as to whether adherence to the law is or isn’t required.”

When it was announced that Downton Abbey would be finishing with a final sixth series back in 2015, fans were devastated.

For five years, the exploits of the Crawley family, their friends, enemies and staff entertained much of the nation, until the creator and writer Julian Fellowes decided to take it out on a high.

But then, in 2016, a Downton movie was announced – and now, it’s almost upon us. Here’s everything you need to know…

When will it be in cinemas?

Downton Abbey will be released in the UK on 13 September 2019.

Maggie Smith is back on fine form as the Countess (Photo: Universal / Focus Features)

Fans who have missed the Countess (Maggie Smith) and her biting cut-downs, simmering upstairs-downstairs elicit affairs and just a general taste of the retro good life will be pleased to know that it looks ready to deliver on that front.

But the main thrust of the film seems to centre around some royalty coming for dinner.

It is set 18 months after the end of the finale series, in 1927.

Who appears in it?

Most of the main cast from the ITV series will also be appearing in the movie.

Where was it filmed?

The primary set for the Downton Abbey castle in both the film and TV series is in actual fact, Highclere Castle in Hampshire.

The Gothic style house, which boasts grand, historic rooms such as a library and a great hall, is set in 1000 acres of parkland.

In real life, it is the home of the 8th Earl and Countess of Carnavaron, whose family have lived there since 1679 – Julian Fellowes, reportedly had the castle in mind when writing the series.

While some scenes are filmed in studios and other locations, the exterior shots and certain indoor scenes are filmed at Highclere.

Other film locations for Downton Abbey include Bampton Village in Oxfordshire, which appears in the ITV series as the village of Downton, Cogges Manor Farm in Oxfordshire, which is the setting for Yew Tree Farm and Basildon Park in Berkshire, where the interiors of Grantham House are set.

What do the reviews say?

Overall, the critics seem to have been appreciative, with the film holding an early approval rating of 85 per cent from the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes after the previews.

However, many of these come from US writers, a country that famously goes wild for Downton’s idealised version of aristocratic English life.

Indeed, Empire magazine call the film “England as Americans see it, a horrendously dated perspective”, and reviews from critics on this side of the pond are far less kind.

That publication called it an “aggressively gentle nostalgia trip”, although it also acknowledged that the “big-screen debut will likely delight” fans of the series.

The Guardian described it as “the most intensely glucose and sometimes baffling Christmas special,” adding “every so often you can feel the rhythmic thud of where the ad break would normally go” on TV.

Despite all this, reviewer Peter Bradshaw again conceded that while it is “at all times ridiculous” it was also “quite enjoyable”.

What does Julian Fellowes say about the film?

Speaking during a Twitter Q&A, he said: “The idea of a film didn’t really cross our minds when doing the series. When we finished, the idea of a film started to form. I was keen to bring the theme of a royal visit, where everyone upstairs and downstairs would be on their best behaviour. This became the centre of the film.”

He was also asked if it was nice to have the cast together again. He replied: “Very slightly strange to find ourselves back in Highclere and everyone back in their costumes. It was peculiar but very nice. And they’ve all been doing different things, so it’s certainly nice to have everyone back sitting around the dining table again.

The President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, has said there would be no Brexit agreement “without a backstop” in a statement on Thursday, arguing that the UK has brought no new proposals to the table.

The new president pointed out that its 750 MEPs would have to approve any deal, which he argued must contain a form of backstop.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been arguing for the backstop, a set of measures aimed at avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, to be removed from the deal that was negotiated by his predecessor Theresa May.

‘Main stumbling block’

David Sassoli criticised the UK Government (Photo: European Parliament)

Mr Sassoli said: “Obviously, the backstop is the main stumbling block in negotiations” before adding that “you can’t have an agreement without a backstop. It couldn’t really be any clearer”.

He said: “That’s the position of the European Commission, and the position of the European Institutions, including the European Parliament, and don’t forget the Parliament will have the last word.”

The backstop, as it stands, would keep the UK inside a customs union and Northern Ireland aligned with EU rules to prevent a hard border with the Republic of Ireland if no trade agreement is reached to achieve the same aim.

No alternatives

‘We believe there is too much rigidity and this rigidity is something that’s been ratified into the date of 31 October’ (Photo: Getty Images)

Mr Sassoli criticised the UK Government for not doing enough to find a different solution, saying: “I’d like to stress this point: The United Kingdom hasn’t really proposed any alternatives.”

He said: “We’re happy to look at the Political Declaration again, and make it into a legally binding document, and conclude an association agreement, which of course, if it’s sufficiently rooted, would make a backstop unnecessary.”

But he warned of an increased risk of no deal, and said the UK would still have to pay its outstanding payments, known as the Brexit divorce bill.

‘Closer to the possibility of a no-deal’

Michel Barnier said he was ‘not optimistic’ about finding a Brexit compromise (Getty)

After a meeting with EU negotiator Michel Barnier, Mr Sassoli told reporters: “The resolution stresses the concern of the Parliament on recent developments in the debate in the United Kingdom and the breaking off of the negotiations, which do bring us closer to the possibility of a no deal.

“We believe there is too much rigidity and this rigidity is something that’s been ratified into the date of 31 October.

“The resolution says that if there is a no deal departure that will be entirely the responsibility of the United Kingdom.

“And, of course, it will still be bound to its financial obligations and they need to respect the rights of the citizens as well as the Good Friday Agreement.”

Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng suggested that “many people” are questioning the impartiality of the judiciary following the Scottish judges ruling that Boris Johnson‘s prorogation of Parliament was “unlawful.”

The decision that runs contrary to a decision in the English courts and an appeal made by the Government will be heard by the Supreme Court in London next week.

The judges said: “The Court will accordingly make an Order declaring that the prime minister’s advice to HM the Queen and the prorogation which followed thereon was unlawful and is thus null and of no effect.”

‘Lawyers and judges are interfering in politics’

Kwasi Kwarteng said many people feel judges are biased. (Photo: BBC)

But Mr Kwarteng said the decision meant people were questioning the judge’s impartiality, prompting a wave of criticism.

He told the BBC: “I think that they are impartial, but I’m saying that many people, many Leave voters, many people up and down the country, are beginning to question the partiality of the judges.

“That’s just a fact. People are saying this all the time, they are saying ‘why are judges getting involved in politics’… we’ve got to be honest about the debate.”

He added: “The extent to which lawyers and judges are interfering in politics is something that concerns many people.”

‘Undermine public perceptions’

Prime Minister Boris Johnson (Photo: Getty)

Former Lib Dem leader Lord Campbell said: “I would expect a government minister to understand the importance of the independence of the judiciary and not make any comments that might undermine public perceptions.”

One of Mr Kwarteng’s fellow ministers also distanced himself from the comments during an interview with ITV’s Robert Peston.

Housing Minister Robert Jenrick said: “Well, we must back the judges in this country to uphold the rule of law, that’s absolutely essential…”

Mr Peston asked: “So you would distance yourself from what Kwasi said?”

He said: “I would, I would go back to, though, the comment that was made by the High Court which said I think that the words they used were, ‘You have to be very cautious before you intrude into debates between the executive and Parliament.’ And so obviously this will be a matter that will now be decided by the Supreme court but I suspect they will be mulling over those issues.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned European allies of the danger of the UK becoming a Singapore-style magnet to international investment at their expense.

She said she believes that a deal can still be reached with Britain and she vowed to fight until the “last day” for an agreement.

Speaking in Berlin to the Bundestag, Germany’s lower parliamentary chamber, Mrs Merkel said yesterday there was still time to negotiate a deal before Britain’s scheduled departure from the bloc on 31 October.

But she warned that Britain could adopt a low-tariff regime that could undermine EU economies.

‘Economic competitor’

“After the withdrawal of Britain, we will have an economic competitor at our own doorstep, even if we want to keep close economic, foreign and security cooperation and friendly relations,” she said.

The UK’s banking industry dwarfs that of any other European country, and is nearly three times the size as that of France or Germany.

Mrs Merkel said she regretted the exit of one of the EU’s “most important member states” in the coming months, but she insisted Germany was ready for a no-deal Brexit.

“I’m firmly convinced, as before, that we have every opportunity to do it in an orderly fashion, and the German government will work until the last day to ensure that that’s possible,” she said. “But I can also say that we’re prepared for a disorderly exit.”

Yellowhammer

There may be days-long delays for lorries crossing the channel from Calais, the document warns (Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

A new Whitehall “Operation Yellowhammer” document was released on Wednesday night that warned the UK could face shortages of food and medicine and civil unrest if the UK left the EU without a deal.

Ministers published the information just three hours before the deadline imposed by Parliament, who had compelled the Government to publish the documents in a vote in the Commons.

Truck drivers face delays as long as two and a half days, with the disruption lasting for three months. The crunch at the Channel will have knock-on effects for fresh food – leading to shortages and price rises – and medicine. The papers say it is “not practical” to stockpile enough drugs to last for an extended time.

They also warn: “Protests and counter-protests will take place across the UK and may absorb significant amounts of police resource. There may also be a rise in public disorder and community tensions.”

The EU is planning to divert funds earmarked for natural disasters to help areas in member states that will be hit by a no-deal, particularly Ireland, Belgium and parts of Northern France.

Tory MP Nigel Evans has claimed that 50 MPs from the Labour Party would be prepared to back a new Brexit deal brought by Boris Johnson.

Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, the Brexiteer claimed that progress is being made by the Government on finding a new solution to the Irish border issue and that members of the Northern Irish DUP are also onside.

Mr Johnson said that a no-deal Brexit would be a “failure of statecraft” during a visit to Dublin on Monday, despite concerns from some MPs that this is his objective.

Under the terms of a new law, which has been imposed on Mr Johnson by MPs, the Prime Minister must seek an extension to Brexit beyond 31 October unless either a new deal, or a no-deal exit is approved by the Commons by 19 October.

‘We can do a deal’

Nigel Evans said a number of Labour MPs would back the deal. (Photo: Sky News)

“Nor does he want to disrespect the views of the British voters in that referendum, and so the way we do that is by seeing if there is a way that we can do a deal. ”

“And I talked to Arlene Foster yesterday who was over for discussions with the Prime Minister, I spoke to Jeffrey Donaldson of the DUP, who is incredibly pragmatic at looking for all sorts of ways.

“And we all already know that the Irish foreign minister, Simon Coveney has been looking at ways of facilitating the integrity of the single market but away from the border.

50 Labour MPs

Caroline Flint is leading the new group (Photo: Getty Images)

“And so there are all sorts of ways that this can happen. But what we need, and this is the one thing that has been lacking, is political will.

“And I spoke to a Labour MP yesterday, and she told me that there are about 50 Labour MPs who are ready to break ranks with the Labour Party, if necessary, in order to vote for a pragmatic sensible deal that’s going to deliver Brexit.”

Labour MPs Stephen Kinnock and Caroline Flint are trying to build a cross-party consensus for a deal, with support from former Tory ministers such as Rory Stewart.

Mr Johnson is focused on trying to negotiate changes to the backstop, a series of measures that keeps the UK in the Customs Union and Northern Ireland aligned to many EU rules, to prevent a hard border with the Republic of Ireland.

The DUP, who have helped prop up the Tory Government, are opposed to any deal that separates Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK.

‘Economic and constitutional integrity of the UK’

The Prime Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster held talks for over an hour in Downing Street on a way forward on Brexit (Photo: REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne)

Ms Foster said after meeting the Prime Minister on Tuesday: “A sensible deal, between the United Kingdom and European Union which respects the economic and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom, is the best way forward for everyone,” she said.

“History teaches us that any deal relating to Northern Ireland which cannot command cross-community support is doomed to failure. That is why the Northern Ireland backstop is flawed.

“During today’s meeting, the Prime Minister confirmed his rejection of the Northern Ireland only backstop and his commitment to securing a deal which works for the entire United Kingdom as well as our neighbours in the Republic of Ireland.”

European Commission president-elect Ursula von der Leyen has received criticism for appointing a commissioner for ‘Protecting Our European Way of Life’ who will be in charge of migration and security.

The German politician unveiled her new 27 commissioners on Tuesday who will head up various arms of the EU’s powerful civil service if they are approved by the European Parliament.

The title for the role given to former Commission chief spokesman Margaritis Schinas has raised eyebrows.

The Greek politician will be in charge of “migration, security, employment and education” and chair a commissioner’s group on “Protecting our European Way of Life.”

‘Deeply insulting’

(Photo: Getty)

Labour London MEP Claude Moraes tweeted: “Calling the European Commission migration portfolio ‘protecting our way of life’ is deeply insulting. And if this is migration what will the Home Affairs Commissioner do? I sense confusion with these weird and odd titles.”

He added: “Combining security with migration. Throwing in employment and education. Calling the portfolio “Protecting our Way of Life”. Seriously. Any idea how this comes across?”

He also reminded the Commission that the European Parliament must approve all the nominees and that “a portfolio with a title like this just cannot stand in my view.”

Meanwhile, charity Amnesty International’s EU office tweeted: “Linking migration with security in the portfolio of the ‘Commissioner for Protecting our European Way of Life’ risks sending a worrying message.

“People who have migrated have contributed to the way of life in Europe throughout its history.

“We trust that Commissioner-designate Margaritis Schinas will work hard for an EU in which safe and legal routes allow migrants to continue to contribute to the future of Europe.”

She said: “The European way of life is built on the principle of dignity and equality for all. You will coordinate the work on inclusion and building a genuine Union of equality and diversity.”

She later said: “You will lead the Commission’s work on making our communities more united and cohesive. As part of this, you will coordinate the work on improving the integration of migrants and refugees into society.”

‘New pact on migration and asylum’

On migration, she asked him to look into “building bridges between those most entrenched” and asked him to formulate a “new pact on migration and asylum” and also creating new pathways for legal migration.

This issue is a major point of contention between member states, with many eastern European countries previously refusing to comply with EU refugee resettlement programs.

But she also gave Mr Schinas responsibility for the EU’s “Security Union” telling him: “You will coordinate the Commission’s work to enhance the EU’s ability to prevent,
detect and respond to hybrid threats.”

Ms von der Leyen said her commission would be the most “diverse ever.” Out of the nominees, 12 are women and fourteen men, compared with just eight in the previous term, although all the designate are white.

The UK has not nominated a commissioner, although Ms von der Leyen said it would have to if Brexit is extended beyond 31 October.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme on Tuesday, the former cricketer hit back at criticism of his inclusion in Theresa May’s honours list, arguing that it was “25-years ago.”

Domestic abuse charities have criticised the former Prime Minister over the decision to give the former England cricket star a knighthood, after he was convicted in France in 1998 of beating his then girlfriend Margaret Moore in a French Riviera hotel.

‘I don’t give a toss about her, love’

Responding to comments from the co-acting chief executive of Women’s Aid, who said his award was “very disappointing,” Sir Geoffrey said: “I don’t give a toss about her, love.

“Twenty-five years ago. You can take your political nature and do whatever you want with it. I couldn’t give a toss.”

Adina Claire, of Women’s Aid, said: “Celebrating a man who was convicted for assaulting his partner sends a dangerous message – that domestic abuse is not taken seriously as a crime.

“With increasing awareness of domestic abuse, and a Domestic Abuse Bill ready to be taken forward by Government, it is extremely disappointing that a knighthood has been recommended for Geoffrey Boycott, who is a convicted perpetrator of domestic abuse.”

‘It’s disappointing’

Brearley discusses the game with former England opening batsman Geoffrey Boycott (Getty Images)

Boycott, who has always denied the assault, was fined £5,000 and given a three-month suspended prison sentence over the attack.

Computer consultant Mrs Moore suffered bruising to her forehead and blackened eyes in the assault at the Hotel du Cap in Antibes in October 1996.

Boycott has accused her of putting a “stain on my name” and maintained her injuries were sustained through an accidental slip and fall.

But public prosecutor Jean-Yves Duval rejected Boycott’s claims, saying the injuries were “absolutely incompatible” with an accident and that the cricketer’s lawyer Jean-Luc Cardona did not stand up to examination.

A spokeswoman from the Woman’s Trust said: “It’s disappointing to see Geoffrey Boycott included in Theresa May’s honours list, given her vocal support for domestic abuse survivors and the Domestic Abuse Bill.

“While we welcome the recent Domestic Abuse Bill for its work to widen the definition of domestic abuse, the inclusion of Geoffrey Boycott in the honours list shows just how much our attitude as a society needs to change when it comes to supporting survivors.”

‘Most people in England believe it’s not true’

Former prime minister Theresa May gave honours to her key aides (Photo: Getty)

Mr Boycott said his experiences in the French courts were one of the reasons he has been a passionate advocate for Brexit.

He said: “It was a court case in France where you’re guilty, which is one reason I don’t vote to Remain in Europe. You’re guilty until you’re proved innocent.

“It’s the totally opposite of when you’re in England, and it’s very difficult to prove you’re innocent in another country in another language.

“And most people in England don’t believe it, I didn’t do it, you move on. It’s a cross I have to bear, right or wrong, good or bad, I have to live with it.

“I’m clearing my mind and I believe most people in England believe it’s not true.”

"I don't want an election… yet I have accepted the reality that an election is the only way to break the deadlock in the House" – PM Boris Johnson puts forward motion, asking MPs to vote for an early general election

Former Supreme Court justice Lord Sumption has warned it would not be legal for Boris Johnson to apply for an Article 50 extension while also asking the EU 27 to reject it.

A bill forcing Mr Johnson to seek an extension of Brexit until the end of January is due to receive royal assent on Monday after a series of votes in the Commons last week.

But over the weekend the Prime Minister told journalists that he has no plans to delay Brexit beyond 31 October, a date he described as “do or die” when campaigning for the Tory leadership.

Reports have emerged that the Government could be considering going through with the requirements in the bill, which enters into law once approved by the Queen, while undermining it by indicating to the EU that it does not support the plans and implores them to reject it.

‘He’s got to apply for an extension’

Supreme Court judges in Westminster Abbey. (Photo: Getty)

Lord Sumption. who retired from the 12-judge Supreme Court in 2018, strongly rejected the idea, saying it would be in breach of the law.

Asked if such a move would be legal, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “No, of course it wouldn’t. The Bill, or Act as it’s about to become, says that he’s got to apply for an extension. Not only has he got to send the letter, he’s got to apply for an extension.

“To send the letter and then try to neutralise it seems to me, plainly, is a breach of the Act. What you’ve got to realise is the courts are not very fond of loopholes.”

If Mr Johnson refused to hand over the letter Lord Sumption said: “He would be in contempt of court.

“He would I suspect have to put up with the resignation of the Justice Secretary and Attorney General and probably other members of his Cabinet.”

He also added that: “There are plenty of ways in which this kind of obligation can be enforced.”

‘A political explainer’

Boris Johnson makes a speech during a visit to West Yorkshire (Photo: Danny Lawson/PA Wire/Pool/Reuters)

An unnamed source told the Telegraph newspaper: “There is a prescribed letter that has to be sent…Does that stop the Prime Minister sending other documents to the EU? I don’t think it does.

“A political explainer perhaps, as to where the Government’s policy is. It has to make clear that the Government is asking for an extension, but let’s not forget what the next step is.

“Once that is done, the Europeans are going to ask: ‘Why? What is the reason? [What] if the government said: ‘We don’t have any reasons for an extension.

“There is a clear path now: the Europeans need to refuse an extension.”

France has suggested it could reject an extension, while Ireland said it would be open to a delay to Brexit. Such a move would need to be approved by a “qualified majority” meaning 55 percent of EU member states, representing 65 percent of the EU population.

Mr Johnson is planning to try and force a general election once again by holding another vote on Monday. A motion to trigger one was rejected last week after it failed to garner to votes of two-thirds of MPs.

Boris Johnson has been criticised by the chief constable of West Yorkshire Police for using the force’s recruits for a political speech without letting him know in advance.

Mr Johnson gave a speech in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, flanked by 35 new police recruits to illustrate his commitment to hire 20,000 new officers, but also used it as an opportunity to criticise MPs.

But the force’s chief constable John Robins said that the use of the new recruits had been under the premise that the speech would be about the recruitment drive, not Mr Johnson’s issues with Parliament and Brexit.

‘Overshadowed’

West Yorkshire Police said: “Yesterday’s visit by the Prime Minister and Home Secretary was to visit our Carr Gate training facilities, to announce the launch of the national recruitment campaign for an extra 20,000 police officers.

Chief constable John Robins said: “I repeat that I am pleased that we were chosen as the focal point of the national recruitment campaign launch, but the good news of extra officers was overshadowed by the media coverage of other events.

“It was the understanding of West Yorkshire Police that any involvement of our officers was solely about police officer recruitment. We had no prior knowledge that the speech would be broadened to other issues until it was delivered.

“Minutes before the speech, we were told that the NPAS visit and subsequent brief to a small media pool had been cancelled. I was therefore disappointed to see my police officers as a backdrop to the part of the speech that was not related to recruitment.”

“I am proud of the resilience and professionalism of every single one of our student officers yesterday. With the recruitment of additional officers alongside them over the next few years, we will hopefully be in a better position to now deliver the service that the public deserve and expect.”

‘Naked party political stunt’

Shadow policing minister Louise Haigh demanded an apology from the Prime Minister to the West Yorkshire force. She said: “The Prime Minister and his aides deceived the police by knowingly using officers for a naked party political stunt, without their prior knowledge.

“This is a serious breach of trust and the Prime Minister should be ashamed of putting serving officers in this intolerable position. He should apologise to them immediately.”

Mr Johnson used the speech to criticised MPs for blocking his attempts to trigger a general election after they took control of the Brexit process in a series of votes on

A Downing Street spokeswoman told the Guardian: “The PM’s long-planned visit was highlighting a national recruitment campaign for 20,000 new officers, which has been welcomed across the police service.

“It gave the PM the opportunity to see first hand the outstanding training which new recruits receive, and to meet those who have committed their lives to keeping us safe.”

Cameras also caught the moment another man berated the PM on a street in Leeds.

The man told him: “You should be in Brussels negotiating. Where is the negotiation going on? Where is it?

“You’re in Morley in Leeds, you should be in Brussels, leading the British people to negotiation against leaving the European Union. You’re playing games.

“He’s been speaking for the last six weeks since he’s been elected and he’s said nothing,” he told the crowd that had assembled before telling Mr Johnson: “You’ve said nothing for the last six weeks, you’ve gone into Parliament and you played games.”

The PM responded: “Actually that’s not true. We are on the verge of getting a deal.”

After the man said that the opposition had seen that he was “playing games” Mr Johnson said: “Well, I think if the opposition want to do this, then why won’t they have an election?”

‘It is Dominic Cummings and you playing games’

Boris Johnson was accused of playing games by one man. (Photo: BBC)

The man hit back saying: “It is Dominic Cummings and you playing games with Parliament, playing games with the people of United Kingdom and all the people who are entitled to vote.”

Mr Johnson reiterated his calls for a general election during his speech after it was rejected by the Commons on Wednesday night. He also accused the opposition of “torpedoing” his negotiations with the EU.

He said: “I really don’t see how we can have a situation where the British ability to negotiate is absolutely torpedoed by Parliament in this way with powers of the British people handed over to Brussels so we can be kept incarcerated in the EU without that actually being put to the people in the form of a vote.”

But the speech itself received criticism from Mark Burns-Williamson, the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner, who accused the PM of “abusing” his position by using the trainee police officers.

Mr Burns-Williamson, who is a Labour politician, said: “These officers shouldn’t have been used. It was clearly a political speech about Brexit and issues surrounding the General Election. He’s abused their position.”

One of Mr Johnson’s key policies is the recruitment of 22,000 new police officers, something he has promised to start doing immediately.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested that Eurosceptics could also be expelled from the Conservative Party if they refuse to back a revised Brexit deal.

The PM suffered a bruising week in the Commons with MPs first seizing control of the House, passing legislation that stops him delivering a no-deal Brexit, and then rejecting his demand for a general election.

Mr Johnson took swift action against a group of 21 MPs that included former chancellors Ken Clarke and Philip Hammond who backed the bill in the Commons, suspending the party whip from them.

But speaking to ITV’s Robert Peston, the Prime Minister suggested the same fate could befall MPs, which includes the hardline European Research Group (ERG), if they don’t back a revised deal he negotiates with Brussels.

‘What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander’

Boris Johnson warned that more Tory MPs could be expelled from the party. (Photo: ITV)

He said: “I think what the people of this country want to see is a government that is determined to come out of the EU on October the 31st and that is what we are going to do…

“And so… what’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. That’s what I’ve said to all colleagues and I think I said it in the chamber yesterday.”

Asked by Mr Peston if this meant MPs such as hardline Eurosceptic Steve Baker, who heads up the ERG, would be out of the party if he does not vote for the deal, he said: “I think colleagues are going to find that the deal we get is extremely good, I think you’re going to find that people will instinctively vote for it because it gets us out of the EU.”

Mr Johnson defended his decision to strip the whip from moderate Tory MPs, provoking protest from nearly 100 “one nation” members of his party, saying that they had “plenty of warning.”

‘These are friends of mine’

“Look, I mean these are friends of mine, and believe me I take absolutely no joy in any of it. But it was very sad and surprising that they should undermine the UK’s ability to get a deal, because that’s what it does,” he said

“And I think what the country wants to see is clarity and determination in coming out of the EU on October the 31st. And alas for those colleagues who had plenty of warning and explication about what we want, they were I’m afraid backing a bill, the surrender bill, that effectively frustrates Brexit, and we made it very clear to them what the consequences would be.”

Mr Johnson’s attempts to trigger a general election that would have ended the careers of many of the rebel MPs was defeated in the Commons on Wednesday night as many opposition parties abstained, denying him of the two-thirds needed to bring one around under the Fixed Terms Parliaments Act.

Winston Churchill’s grandson, Nicholas Soames, gives an emotional speech about standing down as an MP after 37 years – after he was expelled from the Conservatives for voting against the governmenthttps://t.co/JEIR7gaqGCpic.twitter.com/Gj1loApExy

Posts navigation

Please choose your Language:

About this site:

This may be a good place to introduce yourself and your site or include some credits.

Why not write for us?

We welcome submissions and pitches for articles from specialist bloggers and local reporters.
We publish commentary and opinion, reviews, general news and political analysis.
Please email us at editor@24plusnews.com in the first instance with your ideas and sample articles.